The Sites of Nitrogen Absorption from the Alimentary Tract of the Chicken

SITES OF nutrient absorption in humans have been investigated by Borgstrom et al. (1957) and Cummins and Jussila (1955). Gage and Fish (1924) reported that fat absorption occurred from the jejunum of cats. Fat and nitrogen absorption were investigated in dogs by Clatworthy et al. (1952) and Kremen et al. (1954). Renner (1961) reported that the middle portion of the small intestine was the most active site with regard to fat absorption in the chick. Price and Zolli (1961) reported that oxytetracycline was absorbed to the greatest extent from the jejunum of chickens. Bolton (1961), using cellulose as a marker, presented data which indicated that much of the protein absorption in the chicken occurred beyond the duodenum. Results of the present experiment indicate that, in chickens, there are differences in the amount of nitrogen absorbed from various segments of the small intestine. Chromic oxide (Cr2O3) was used as an indicator.